Meet the Forte Team!

Colleen Middleton is the owner and director of Forte Dance and Twirl Studio in Roswell, Georgia. She brings more than fifteen years of experience as a baton twirling coach, with certifications from the United States Twirling Association and a judging license with the National Baton Twirling Association. She is also certified to teach the Acrobatic Arts curriculum. Colleen was Majorette Captain in the University of Georgia Redcoat Marching Band and grew up competing as a member of the world-championship team, Wheaton Dance Twirl Team. In addition, Colleen is presently the Twirling Coordinator for the Georgia Tech Yellow Jacket Marching Band. 

Colleen has been coaching Forte's competition teams since 2015, with several national championship titles for groups and individuals. In addition, Colleen has a B.A. in Public Relations and an A.B. in History from the University of Georgia. Colleen and her husband live in Atlanta with their lovable pup, Maggie. 

Camille Carmichael started her journey in Columbus, OH. During a production of Annie in the 6th grade, she realized her future was on stage. Camille earned her BFA in Acting and a Dance minor from Wright State University, where she studied acting techniques, movement styles, and dance forms, including ballet, modern, jazz, and tap.

Since graduating, Camille has worked professionally in performing arts while earning her Registered Behavior Technician certification. She brings extensive experience working with neurodivergent children, teaching Applied Behavior Analysis and executive functioning skills. In her classes, she combines her love for dance with her knowledge of behavioral techniques, creating a unique movement language that helps young dancers prepare for life both on and off stage. Camille’s dedication to fostering young talent fuels her mission to create an inclusive, nurturing environment for neurodivergent and neurotypical dancers alike, empowering them to become confident, expressive artists.​

Priyasha Bhatt began dance training in Savoy, Illinois in 2002. After graduating from training programs in Ballet, Tap, Jazz and Acrobatics, Priya transitioned to teaching/training in 2015 before going to the University of Illinois. After graduating with her Bachelors in May 2021, she moved to Georgia and started performing backup for musical artists in Atlanta.

In addition to actively performing as a jazz/heels/contemporary and hip-hop dancer, Priya is certified to teach the Acrobatic Arts curriculum and leads several Acro classes at Forte throughout the week. ​

Ivy Ledford, a native of Asheville, NC, has trained extensively in ballet, modern, tap, jazz, hip-hop, and contemporary. At a young age she realized the joy movement brought to her and never looked back. She was invited to attend Camp Protégé, mentored by industry leaders like Stacey Tookey, Heather Lang and Kathryn McCormick, and toured with Dancemakers Convention as an Assistant Demonstrator. Ivy has performed at the MCA in Chicago, apprenticed with Deeply Rooted Dance Theater, and studied Dance at Columbia College Chicago. Currently, she combines her dance and Pilates expertise to help train young dancers and prevent injuries while sharing her passion for movement.​

Kaylynn Crump began twirling at the age of two at a baton and dance studio in Lavonia, Georgia, then began training with Forte in 2015. Over the years she has competed as part of Forte’s competition teams and has had the honor of representing Team USA twice, in 2019 and 2023. Throughout her career, she has earned multiple state and national titles in solo, two-baton, and three-baton events. Her passion for the sport has led her to become a certified USTA Level 1 Coach, allowing her to share her experience and love for baton twirling with the next generation of athletes.
 
Kaylynn is currently a student at the University of North Georgia, where she studies kinesiology. She is also a member of Phi Mu and is the UNG feature twirler.

Autumn Greenman’s teaching journey began in high school, assisting and choreographing at her instructor’s request. Her love for music sparked a passion for dance and inspiring others, which flourished post-high school when she began teaching and choreographing professionally. With over 10 years of training, Autumn brings expertise in hip-hop, ballet, modern, musical theatre, jazz, and contemporary dance.
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As an Atlanta native, Autumn continues to train, attend workshops, and refine her teaching skills. Her goal is to create a vibrant and supportive atmosphere in the classroom by fostering creativity, confidence, and teamwork. She encourages dancers to explore their own unique style while mastering the fundamentals of dance. Whether helping beginners find their rhythm or refining a seasoned dancer’s technique, she is committed to guiding each student’s journey. Her dream is to inspire the next generation of dancers while pursuing her own career in commercial dance.

Ryan Turnipseed is a native of Spartanburg, SC and is currently residing in Atlanta while pursuing a career as a professional dancer. Ryan's passion for dance and performance has been part of her spirit since she first began dancing at age three. For the past 18 years, Ryan has studied Ballet, Jazz, Contemporary, Hip-Hop and Improvisation. Ryan has been a competitive dancer for 10 years, earning numerous overall top placement awards, scholarships, and awards for choreography in both regional and national levels. She has worked professionally in TV and Film, in addition to traveling with the Dancemakers Convention as an Assistant Demonstrator for two seasons. Ryan's goal is to train, learn, create, teach and improve, while continuing to chase her dreams of doing what she loves as long as possible. She hopes to inspire others to do the same. ​

Courtney White is a native of Virginia. After graduating from Meredith College with a BA in Dance, she performed as a dancer and character performer at the Walt Disney World Resort for three years before attending The University of North Carolina Greensboro for her MFA in Dance. Courtney is now an adjunct faculty member at Meredith College and is the lead instructor and choreographer for the Carolina Preserves Dance Company.  She serves as the Alumni Advisor and Recruiter for the Wolfpack Majorettes at North Carolina State University and is a certified judge with the National Baton Twirling Association. Courtney is a remote instructor at Forte during the week but travels to Atlanta on weekends to co-Direct several of Forte's competitive teams. 

Clay Middleton is Forte’s Business Manager and you can usually find him working the front desk during class. Clay spent 10 years in Management Consulting and traveled to audit healthcare systems all over the US before Colleen introduced him to the world of Baton and Dance. He officially joined the team in 2021 and focuses on the business side of the studio. Clay brings a B.B.A. in Business Management from the University of Georgia in addition to his two left feet. Go Dawgs. ​